Electrode support means for an electron gun structure

ABSTRACT

Substantially U-shaped support means provide improved positioning and support for the individual electrode elements comprising a cathode ray tube electron gun assembly. The related side members of each U-shaped support channel are oriented in substantially parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of the respective support rod. The discrete shaping of the electrode support arm provides structural cooperation with the contiguously reformed support rod material to provide an enhanced locking effect therebetween.

United States Patent Wanner 51 Apr. 25, 1972 [541 ELECTRODE SUPPORT MEANS FOR AN ELECTRON GUN STRUCTURE Louis R. Wanner, Seneca Falls, NY.

[73] Assignee: Sylvania Electric Products Inc.

[22] Filed: July 2, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 51,761

[72] inventor:

52 us. Cl. ..313/s2 BF,313/69 C, 313/292 [51] Int. Cl ..1-l01j 29 02, H01 j 29/50, HOlj 19/42 58 Field of Search ..3l3/82, 69 C, 70C, 7s, 82,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,808,527 10/1957 McKenzie ..3l3/82 2,859,378 11/1958 Gundertetal ..3l3/82X 3,254,251 5/1966 Hughes ..3l3/70 C 3,543,071 11/1970 Johnson ....3l3/82 3,588,569 6/1971 McQueen 313/85 Primary Examiner-Robert Segal Attorney-Norman .1. OMalley, Donald R. Castle and Frederick H. Rinn [5 7] ABSTRACT Substantially U-shaped support means provide improved positioning and support for the individual electrode elements comprising a cathode ray tube electron gun assembly. The related side members of each U-shaped support channel are oriented in substantially parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of the respective support rod. The discrete shaping of the electrode support arm provides structural cooperation with the contiguously reformed support rod material to provide an enhanced locking effect therebetween.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PhTENTEmPnzs I972 3,659,134 sum 10F 2 INVENTOR. 3 34 53 Louis R. WANNER ATTOR NEY PATENTEDAPR 2 5 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. LOU/S R. WANNER :Dmam 2,011.19.

ATTORNEY ELECTRODE SUPPORT MEANS FOR AN ELECTRON GUN STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to cathode ray tubes and more particularly to electrode support means in an electron gun assembly.

In cathode ray tube electron gun assemblies, the electrode elements comprising the structure are usually positioned and supported in a sequentially aligned relationship. Such orientation is commonly achieved by embedding support straps or studs from the several electrodes in parallelly related securement means such as insulative support rods longitudinally incorporated in the assembly. The conventional support strap usually has a flat-formed embedment portion whereof the terminal section is configurated toanchor in the softened rod material during the studding procedure. There havebeen instances when the flat type studding has not provided adequate support. This has been especially evidenced with short electrode elements which permit only limited spacing for studding. By orienting flat-type supports in a substantially transverse manner in the insulative rod has aggravated edge chipping of the support rod. This condition unduly exposes the support strap which is conducive to the development of interelectrode leakage and voltage breakdown within the gun assembly during tube operation.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to reduce the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide improved means for rigidly sup porting individual electrode elements in a cathode ray tube electron gun assembly. Another object is to provide electrode element support means that minimizes the conditions tending to produce deleterious chipping of the insulative support rods. A' further object is the provision of improved positional seating and locking of the electrode elements in the longitudinal support rods of the gun assembly.

The foregoing objects are achieved in one aspect of the invention wherein at least one of the individual electrode elements in the electron gun structure is provided with at least two support arms extending from the periphery of the element. Each of the arms is formed as a substantially U-shaped channel, the distal end of which is embedded in'a respective insulative support rod. The related side members of the channel are oriented in substantially parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of the support rod. The U-shaping of the channel, when embedded in the rod, provides structural cooperation with the contiguously reformed rod material to produce enhanced positional and positival seating and locking of the support arm therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a cathode ray tube showing an electron gun assembly positioned in the neck portion thereof;

' FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 illustrating means for supporting electrode elements therein; 1

FIG. 3 is an isometric view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial isometric views depicting additional embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view illustrating still another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following specification and appended claims in connection with the aforedescribed drawings.

With reference to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a fragmentary view of a cathode ray tube 11, whereof the glass neck portion 13 has included therein a partially detailed electron gun assembly 15. This may be, for example, a multiple gun structure such as that commonly utilized in a color cathode ray tube. Portions of two electron guns I7 and 19 are shown of which the G G G G and G, electrode elements of one representative gun 17 are referenced as 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 respectively. Usually a majority of the electrode elements comprising each gun are substantially cylindrical members having defining edges with a wall surface therebetween. Each is commonly oriented and supported in several longitudinal insulative support rods by a plurality of suitable support means 37. Two of such support rods 31 and 33 are shown, each having a respective longitudinal axis 32 and 34 therethrough.

In greater detail, reference is made to FIG. 2, which is taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and represents an enlarged plan view of the electron gun assembly 15. The transverse relationship of the similar G electrode elements 24, 26, and 27 of electron guns 17, 19 and 20 is shown with respect to the longitudinal insulative support rods 31, 33, and 35. As illustrated, each of the electrode elements is positioned and supported by at least two related support means attached to at least two insulative support rods. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the G electrode element 24 has support arms 39 and 41 extending in an integral manner from the periphery thereof in spaced relationship to one another. Each of the support arms 39 and 41 has specific distal terminal portions 43 and 45 which are embedded in respective longitudinal insulative support rods 31 and 33. Likewise, each of the arms has respective proximal attachment portions 47 and 49 which are integral to the electrode element 24, being formed from the material thereof in a manner to extend from the defining edge 29 of the substantially cylindrical body member 30.

I Each of the support arms, for instance arm 39, is shaped as a substantially U-shaped channel defined bya plurality of related planes in the form of two related side members 51 and 53 upstanding perimetrically from a substantially truncateshaped base member 55. The first side members 51 and the related second side member 53, separately upstanding from the base member 55, are substantially in planes of non-parallel relationship thereby defining a U-shaped channel of diverse width, the distal portion 43 being narrower than the related proximal attachment portion 47. The individual distal first and second terminal portions 51' and 53 of the first and second side members 51 and 53 respectively are formed to extend beyond the leading edge 59 of the base member 55 as protrusions to facilitate embedment of the support arm 39 in the insulative support rod 31. At the time of embedment, substantially one side of the longitudinal insulative rod 31 which is commonly of a glass material is locally heated as for example by discretely directed gas fires. When that area of the rod is softened to a plastic state, it is common practice to move the rod, or usually all of the heated support rods of the assembly, into contact with the respective electrode element support arms of the several guns. The support arm 39 as shown in FIG. 2 is exemplary of the resultant embedment procedure whereupon the first and second distal terminal portions 51' and 53' of the respective side members 51 and 53 and the leading portion of the base member 55 are shoved into the softened glass of the support rod 31. Upon hardening, the flow of glass into the distal portion of the U-shaped channel provides rigid locking of the support arm 39 in the longitudinal support rod 31, the separately related side members 51 and 53 being embedded therein in substantially parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis 32 thereof.

The side members are preferably shaped to have discrete provisions to provide locking of the side members in the reformed material of the support rod. FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 illusdistal related height h" is greater than the proximal related height h. In each instance the respective pointed protrusions 65 and 67 facilitate insertion of the side members into the glass and tend to expedite flow of the plastic glass along the respective inclined leading edges 52 and 62 toward the apices 69 and 70. The embedment of these apices in the glass of the support rods 31 and 33 provides additional locking of the support arms 39 and 41 therein.

Also shown in FIG. 3 are second side members 53 and 63 which are basically rectangular shaped with the respective leading edges 54 and 64 formed for embedment in the support rods. I

FIG. 4 illustrates an electrode element support arm 39' which is of a U-shaped construction similarto aforedescribed arm 39 except that both the first and second upstanding side members 71 and-73 are of a substantially scalene-shape triangular construction.

In FIG. 5, the U-shaped support arm construction 79 has first and second side members 81 and 83 are of a substantially modified scalene-shaped configuration, but whereof the leading edges 82 and 84 are substantially peaked to further expedite insertion. In greater detail, for example first side member 81 has upper and lower apical regions, 85' and 87 respectively, formed in the distal terminal portion 89 thereof to provide augmented locking of the support arm in the respective glass support rod.

Although several configurations of support arm side members are shown and described, such disclosures are not to be considered limiting. Furthermore, the U-shaped electrode support arm construction is applicable to both plural and single electron gun assemblies.

The relationship of the support arm to the electrode element is not limited to an integral extension of the electrode body member material as aforedescribed. With reference to FIG. 6, the electrode member 93 has two similar but separately formed support arms 95 and 97 suitably attached, as by brazing or welding, to the wall surface of the body memberv For example, the U-shaped structure of arm 95 is similar to that already described with the exception that the proximal attachment portion 99 has a tab arrangement of shoe appendage 101 attached thereto. Such attachment appendage 101 is usually arcuately formed to substantially match the exterior contour of the respective electrode member 93. Separate support arm constructions are particularly advantageous for longer cylindrical electrodes, wherein they are attached on the sidewall substantially midway between the defining edges 103 and 105.

Thus, there is provided an improved means for rigidly supporting individual electrode elements in cathode ray tube electron gun assemblies. The U-shaped support arms minimize the conditions producing chipping of the insulative support rods. In addition, the U-shaped arms provide improved positional and positival seating and locking of the electrode elements to the longitudinal support rods of the gun assembly structure.

While there have been shown and described what are at present considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without de parting from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. In a cathode ray tube electron gun assembly having a plurality of electrode elements and several associated longitudinal insulative support rods, each having a longitudinal axis therethrough, means for supporting at least one individual electrode element therein comprising:

at least two spaced apart support arms extending from the periphery of said electrode element, each of said arms being formed as a substantially U-shaped channel defined by a plurality of angularly related planes in the form of a pair of related first and second cooperating side members upstandin perimetrically in non arallel relationshi from a sugstantially truncate-shape base member, each of said U-'shaped arms having a proximal attachment portion integral to said electrode element and a distal terminal portion whereof the leading edges of the individual distal terminal sections of the related side members are formed as protrusions extending beyond the leading edge of said base member, said protrusions having substantially pointed leading edges to facilitate insertion of said distal portions of said pair of related side members into the plastic glass of a common support rod in a manner to expedite flow of the glass along each side member and into the defined region therebetween, said pointed leading edges of the distal terminal portions of said electrode support side members being shaped as acute inclinations forming upper apical regions to provide augmented locking of said side members in the reformed material of said support rod said side members being embedded in a respective support rod in substantially parallel upstanding relationship with the longitudinal axis thereof.

2. The electron gun assembly according to claim 1 wherein said side members have distal related heights greater than the proximal related heights thereof, and wherein the leading edges of said members have a plurality of related apical regions to provide augmented locking of said side members in the reformed material of said support rod. 

1. In a cathode ray tube electron gun assembly having a plurality of electrode elements and several associated longitudinal insulative support rods, each having a longitudinal axis therethrough, means for supporting at least one individual electrode element therein comprising: at least two spaced apart support arms extending from the periphery of said electrode element, each of said arms being formed as a substantially U-shaped channel defined by a plurality of angularly related planes in the form of a pair of related first and second cooperating side members upstanding perimetrically in nonparallel relationship from a substantially truncate-shaped base member, each of said U-shaped arms having a proximal attachment portion integral to said electrode element and a distal terminal portion whereof the leading edges of the individual distal terminal sections of the related side members are formed as protrusions extending beyond the leading edge of said base member, said protrusions having substantially pointed leading edges to facilitate insertion of said distal portions of said pair of related side members into the plastic glass of a common support rod in a manner to expedite flow of the glass along each side member and into the defined region therebetween, said pointed leading edges of the distal terminal portions of said electrode support side members being shaped as acute inclinations forming upper apical regions to provide augmented locking of said side members in the reformed material of said support rod said side members being embedded in a respective support rod in substantially parallel upstanding relationship with the longitudinal axis thereof.
 2. The electron gun assembly according to claim 1 wherein said side members have distal related heights greater than the proximal related heights thereof, and wherein the leading edges of said members have a plurality of related apical regions to provide augmented locking of said side members in the reformed material of said support rod. 